Texas junior Hickok's wrist injury improves

This was supposed to be Kramer Hickok’s year. He was supposed to be the leader of the Texas Longhorns, attempting to win the school's second national title in three years.

Not so fast.

After a summer of full-fledged amateur golf -- including a sixth place finish at the Porter Cup at the end of July -- Hickok’s right wrist started to bother him.

While in Boston for the U.S. Amateur, Hickok went to the hospital to get an MRI on his wrist. The doctor said it was tendinitis. He decided to play through the pain, missing the cut with rounds of 75-74.

When he returned to Dallas, he wanted his primary doctor to check his wrist out as well.

It turns out Hickok had three torn tendons because of playing too much golf.

The junior was only allowed to hit chip shots and putt between Aug. 14 and Sept. 30. On the 30th, Hickok tweeted, “Wrist is finally starting to get better! Starting to hit some little wedge shots... Lets go”

No surgery was required, but he did take part in a procedure called blood-spinning. Athletes such as Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant have also used it for wrist injuries. Blood-spinning involves the drawing of blood and thinning it out -- which allows the blood to generate six times the amount of platelets you need in your blood. It makes your recovery time faster.

Hickok has already had one procedure done, and the next procedure is next week. He hopes to be back and help the Longhorns at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, Oct. 20-22.

“If everything goes as planned, that is the best scenario,” Hickok said.

First round foursome pairings are set for the 2015 Palmer Cup, which pits top collegiate players from the United States and Europe against each other including Maverick McNealy and Beau Hossler college golfers.

First round pairings, matchups for 2015 Palmer Cup

Beau Hossler of Texas during Friday stroke play at the 2015 Men's NCAA Championship at The Concession in Bradenton, Fla.
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Tracy Wilcox
)